Some kind of varmint(s) is tunneling...

[The Big D]

...throughout my yard. Seems most to like tunneling near the fence line and in areas where there are hardscape borders.

Ground is very soft in spots, and I noticeably 'sink' a bit.

There are a few signs of ground level disturbance but mostly below ground evidence is apparent.

Questions: Moles, voles, other critters? (Have not seen anything that might be the cause.) What is the most effective way of getting rid of them? I live in the city thus an 870 is not an option. Ditto dynamite.

Thanks, in advance, for any advice.

Be safe...be well.

 

[jbtrucker]

Maybe a mole maybe check online for bait or traps . One summer 1970's dad set a spike trap in the yard that impaled a mole . Sister and I held a brief funeral service complete with cigar box casket ,the flower bed provided free burial space.

 

[Protocall_Design]

You could try putting mothballs in any holes, or make a hole in some tunnels, put a couple in and cover it back up.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Sounds like something in the Mole or Vole family. They don't hurt much and cause good aeration. They eat the grubs that kill your grass. And they give the dog or cat some entertainment! If you can stand the soft areas (which actually are a good thing) just let them go.

The best way to get rid of them is to treat the lawn for grubs.

Ivan

 

[Jessie]

Jack russel terrier.
Probably moles looking for grubs. Get rid of the grubs and the moles will leave.
I use Bayer granules that kills the grubs ticks and a lot of insect pests.
I just saw that Ivan beat me to the punch

 

[Jim R]

Greetings from the "Land of Moles". We have lived on the same property for 40 years. I spent the first 25 years in a battle with the moles, they won every battle. Fifteen years ago we tore down the old house and built a new one. We brought in 200 yards of top soil and got everything ready to plant grass.
I had a old farmer from down the road stop as I was putting in the last of the landscape edging. I told him I was preparing for an all out war with the moles. He left and came back about an hour latter with a couple of bags of ant and grub killer. He told me it was a house warming gift, "just put it down every year and you won't have and mole problems". That was 15 years ago. We might get a single mole every now and then but they are right on the edge of the property. They never stay.
No food, no moles.
Try it, it really works. Neighbor's place was covered with moles and it took him about a month before they were gone. He put down grub and ant killer 3 times to get it to run them all off.

 

[bigwheelzip]

There are mechanical traps, but a mole repellent recipe found on the internet might help. Mix the recommended concoction of 1/2 cup castor oil, 1/2 cup dishwater detergent and then use 3 tablespoons of that mix to make one gallon solutions which are sprayed on the areas showing mole activity.

 

[hittman77]

The best way to get rid of them is to treat the lawn for grubs.

This!

At least from my experience. Both my aunt and a couple of friends used a company like Terminex.

 

[JS Esq.]

If you want to kill them now, please trap rather than using poison. If you poison the moles, they are likely to be eaten by - and kill - other predators in the area.

 

[ladder13]

I once had 3/4 acre lawn infested with moles/voles. Got rid of the grubs with GrubX, pests disappeared or went to neighbors.

 

[The Big D]

Wow!

That was quick info from you good folks!

I shall try to get rid of the grubs and hope the varmints move on.

Thank you, again.

Be safe..be well.

 

[coltle6920]

I had an underground varmint about ten years ago. I read where they are pretty territorial so you might only have one critter doing the damage. They can tunnel around 8ft per day when active.

I was lucky to catch it when it just started to dig a new burrow and stuck a smoke stick in the hole behind it. Minutes later it came out and croaked on the sidewalk.

Your critter might be eating earthworms. If you had grub worms there would be patches of dead grass in the yard. Grub worms eat the roots of grass and the dead grass would easily come loose if you pulled on it.

There are bottled liquids you attach to the garden hose to spray for burrowing animals that are pretty effective. Home Depot should have them. I knew I had grub worms so I used this product.

 

[ancient-one]

I had a half acre lot and I had a few moles. They provided some legal in town still hunting experiences. You sat where you could watch the tunnels. When you saw the dirt moving start your sneak. They could feel the vibrations of your walking and would stop digging. As soon as they started digging advance until they stopped. After a few stop and go's you would end up right at their digging point and when they started digging again a quick downward thrust of a sharp spade and you had your ugly little tunnel rat. Try it, nothing like still hunting for squirrels but it's fun.

 

[swsig]

We had a big mole infestation about 15 years ago. Our cat, Whopper, took it as a personal challenge and proceeded to eradicate the entire colony. As proof, he would leave the the thoroughly dissected remains of each mole on our doorstep. We really had to watch where we placed our feet when we left the house. Good Kitty!

 

[Ziggy2525]

Gopher Control

The proper way to deal with gophers.

[ame=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cv9yKxIEYI]Caddy Shack - Carl vs Gopher[/ame]

 

[BigBoy99]

How about getting several black snakes? Solve your problem without poison.

 

[steelslaver]

My cats think they are some kind of toy that taste good.

 

[crazyphil]

Many years ago I had what appeared to be moles tunneling around in our
lawn just below the surface. I went out looking for some cats to bring home.
Came to a farmers sign FREE KITTENS. Our little girl said Daddy,
Daddy, can I have one. Mother said only one and it must be a Male. We
don't want the population to rise.

The farmer said I think this one is a Male, and I know the other one is
a Male. We took them both.

I noticed they almost immediately started getting bigger and bigger.
I thought that's good. They are catching and eating the moles.

April Fools Day they both had a batch of kittens in our outside shed.
The mole problem ended at about the same time. Coincidence?

 

[CA Escapee]

The neighbors and I used to see the gopher and mole population rise and fall from year to year. We'd use the wire traps that spring shut around them and wouldn't let go.

Because I didn't use poison I'd put the carcasses out on the double yellow line in the middle of the road. Crows would constantly fly up and down the road looking for road kill. They'd be by in about 10 minutes and air lift them out.

Then we found that if you could get a gopher carcass just big enough, load him up in a spud gun using a slice of potato as a wad, and let 'er rip, they'd fly about 25 yards. They didn't group very well, and it smelled like burning hair and french fries after every shot.

 

[JcMack]

I have kilt moles here by grub elimination. Moles dig tunnels just deep enough if you accidentally step in one they can break an ankle.